Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should we hire ECF as our capital campaign consultant?

• Hiring ECF as your capital campaign consultant will pay for itself because we will help you raise more money than you could without one.
• We are a not-for-profit organization and offer a sliding fee scale that makes our services affordable to all.
• With more than 25 years of capital campaign experience, ECF has raised $50 million in the past four years for Episcopal churches, dioceses, and organizations of all sizes. ECF works exclusively with Episcopal congregations and ministries, and is committed to supporting the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church.
• Our team of experienced staff and consultants is spiritually grounded, deadline oriented, and skilled at helping you navigate challenges and maximizing opportunities presented by capital campaigns.
• Our methodolgy is flexible and can be adapted to meet your unique needs and culture.
• ECF has worked with hundreds of congregations, dozens of dioceses, and other Episcopal organizations around the country to help them successfully raise millions in capital funds for property, program, endowment, debt retirement, and outreach.
• To see who some of our clients have been, click here.

2. What is the Discern-Study-Ask methodology offered by ECF?

ECF has developed a unique, three-phase “Discern-Study-Ask” campaign structure that involves all members of the congregation or organization. Part of the process involves testing your parish’s vision for the campaign to make sure it will be successful.

Discernment is a flexibly designed strategy that identifies your parish’s needs and communicates a collective vision for the campaign. ECF tailors each strategy to your size and communications style and takes account of the hard work you may already have completed in the planning process. Then we train discernment committee members to conduct small group meetings in order to form a cohesive plan. To learn more about discernment, click here.

The feasibility study assesses your readiness for a capital campaign. A professionally conducted feasibility study will help answer five important questions:

• Does your community understand the need for a campaign?
• Do they agree with it?
• Will they work to support it?
• Will they contribute financially?
• If so, how much?

To learn more about the feasibility study, click here.

The solicitation phase utilizes the information accumulated during the previous two phases in order to launch a successful campaign. We’ll train and mentor your campaign staff, design your campaign brochure, pledge card, a return envelope, among several other services. To learn more, click here .

3. How much will it cost to hire ECF as our capital campaign consultant?

ECF capital campaign fees are based on sliding fee scale that allows parishes of any size or financial capacity to hold capital campaigns. We will develop a proposal for services based upon your specific circumstances and needs.

To learn more, call Maurice Seaton, Senior Program Director, at 800-697-2858 or email him at Maurice@EpiscopalFoundation.org.

4. What’s the difference between a capital campaign and other types of fund-raising?

There are 3 primary types of fundraising:

• Annual giving (ordinary giving): Supports the mission and ministry of your congregation or organization; generally unrestricted gifts that can be used to support the annual operating budget
• Capital campaigns (extraordinary giving): Provides for special needs such as new construction or repairs and expansion; might also include raising funds for programming and outreach, endowment or debt retirement
• Planned giving (ultimate giving): Includes bequests, life-income gifts, gifts of life insurance, life estates, appreciated properties (both real and securities), and charitable lead trusts

A capital campaign raises funds for a parish’s extraordinary, one-time needs.

5. For what types of things does a capital campaign raise funds

• Building projects like renovations, expansions, new construction, or a new pipe organ, columbarium, labyrinth, etc.
• Program or outreach needs such as music, young adult ministries, and homeless shelters
• Retiring debt
• Creating or growing an endowment

6. How often should you conduct a capital campaign?

Capital campaign frequency depends upon the needs and resources of the community, but typically it is possible to hold a capital campaign every five to ten years.

7. How will a capital campaign affect regular, annual stewardship?

Parishes and other ministries are often concerned about the impact a capital campaign will have on its annual stewardship. A well executed campaign however, will re-energize the community, get members more involved with the vision and mission, and improve understanding of how resources are used and the impact they have. As a result, a capital campaign can often improve annual stewardship and giving efforts.

8. Can you hold a capital campaign in today’s economic climate?

Yes, if you have a compelling need and the congregation is committed to the vision, then a capital campaign can indeed be successful. A thorough discernment and feasibility study  will help your leadership make an informed decision about your readiness to move forward.

Now is the ideal time to begin preparations (discernment and feasibility study) for a capital campaign so that you are well positioned to launch at the most advantageous time as our economy begins to improve.

9. How much can I expect to raise in a capital campaign?

An industry rule of thumb is that a capital campaign can be expected to raise about three to five times your annual giving. ECF’s feasibility study  will help determine a specific and realistic goal based upon your clear and compelling needs.